As Irvine Valley College’s acclaimed Performing Arts Center prepares for the busy Spring season, patrons of the arts have been warmed by several wintertime performances produced by the talented IVC Music Department. January and February saw several small ensemble and piano concerts, a Faculty Harp Recital, and following in early March several large ensemble performances.
The IVC Master Chorale, led by department chair Matthew Tresler, performed works by Ennio Morricone, Eriks Esenvalds, Joy T. Nilo, and Greg Jasperse which resonated through the hall for their “Spring Sing” concert on March 3, 2023.
Performing to a sold-out audience on March 4, IVC’s Symphony Orchestra, led by Eleanor Nunez, treated everyone to fantastic works by composers Bizet, Fine, Grainger, Holst, Rossini, and Saint-Saens. Making the concert even more special was the collaboration between IVC and Laguna Hills High School’s Chamber String Orchestra, led by Danny Bui, who joined together to perform several pieces. It proved to be an amazing opportunity for High School students to experience performing at the College level in a fabulously outfitted performing arts venue like the Rezanoor Stage.
To no surprise of our returning patrons, led by Mathieu Girardet - the IVC Wind Symphony’s sights and sounds fully enveloped the audience with pieces from Reed, Copley, Hanssen, Nishimura, Whitacre, Price, and Russell on March 5, 2023. Similar to the previous evening’s performance, IVC was joined on stage by students from Laguna Hills High School, this time featuring the High School’s Wind Ensemble. These collaborative performances are such an amazing way for students to see the campus and caliber of the arts programs offered at IVC. The evening ended with a standing ovation and echoes of “these students are really amazing” were heard in the lobby upon the show’s completion.
Basie, Skeffington, Holiday, Sinatra, Herzog, Corea, and Goodwin; these names should evoke images of intimate Jazz Clubs and unforgettable evenings, and that’s what the attendees were treated to as the IVC Jazz Ensemble performed fantastic pieces and featured student soloists within each song. Mathieu Girardet, leader of the ensemble, kept the musicality of the musicians tight while they played a variety of well-known numbers, mixed with some new favorites.
The Performing Arts Center at IVC is currently in the final stages of rehearsal for “9 to 5 the Musical” opening on April 6 and running through the 16th. Buy tickets »
Fans of Dance, will be excited to know that the Dance Department is producing their next show “Emergence” which has 2 performances: 8:00pm on Friday May 5, 2023 and 2:00pm on Saturday May 6, 2023. Buy tickets »